Local area art news

NASHUA – In support of local area artists, Mayor Donnalee Lozeau has invited members of the Nashua Area Artists Association to participate in the “Artist of the Month” exhibit at City Hall. …
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Artist of the Month
NASHUA – In support of local area artists, Mayor Donnalee Lozeau has invited members of the Nashua Area Artists Association to participate in the “Artist of the Month” exhibit at City Hall.
The Artist of the Month for June and July is Mary Ellen Brown. She is a native New Englander now living in southern New Hampshire. She has studied Fine Art and Digital Photography at Salem State College, supplementing with classes at Montserrat College of Art. Having worked in oils, pastels, graphite, watercolor and digital photography, her focus is now centered on pastel painting, preferring a highly detailed realism as seen in still life. Brown is currently a member of the Pastel Society of America, Pastel Society of New Hampshire, the Nashua Area Artists Association, the Manchester Artist Association, the Greater Salem Artist Association, the Hollis Art Society, and the Chelmsford Art Society.
Brown has an extensive list of exhibits and awards, which can be found on her website, along with her artwork: maryellenbrown-fineart.com.
For more information on the “Artist of the Month” program, email nashuaartistsassoc@gmail.com or visit the NAAA website at www.nashuaareaartistsassoc.org.
‘STRETCH’
LOWELL, Mass. –“STRETCH,” the Brush Gallery Studio Artists’ annual exhibition, will be on display beginning Saturday, running through Aug. 3 at the Brush Gallery, 256 Market St. Gallery talk with the artists from 1-3 p.m. July 20. Information: thebrush.org.
‘Begin Anywhere’
LOWELL, Mass. – Loading Dock Gallery, 122 Western Ave., presents its new exhibit, “Begin Anywhere,” from July 2-27. An opening reception will be held 5-7 p.m. Saturday, July 5.
“Begin Anywhere” showcases the creative work of Sonja Lee-Austin and Linda B. Dunn. The exhibit features mixed media works from both artists, using fabric, photography, and found objects in new ways.
“The title of the exhibit reflects the sense of adventure that I feel when I start a new piece of artwork,” said Lee-Austin. “I can ‘begin anywhere’ with a piece; sometimes I start with a photograph that inspires me, and sometimes I start with rummaging through textiles and random art supplies I have collected.”
“I hope the title of the exhibit suggests to the viewer that each moment has potential,” said Dunn. “I tell my students: Dive in. Step past fear and just start.” Dunn uses fabric in a painterly way, altering and combining it with photos, text, dye and paint. Her work often starts with objects that have been left behind.
The Loading Dock Gallery is open noon-5:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, and noon-4 p.m. Sunday.

ONGOING
‘Green is Gold’ nature-inspired art
LOWELL, Mass. – The Loading Dock Gallery, 122 Western Ave., presents “Green is Gold: Chromatic Landscapes,” running through Sunday.
Nature: it is where beauty abounds, and you are invited to stroll into the Loading Dock Gallery during the month of June and enter a celebration of the beautiful world we live in. With “Green is Gold: Chromatic Landscapes,” Levesque brings you an insightful tribute that shows this beauty and reflects the energy, vibrancy, playfulness and absolute power that Mother Nature holds.
“Art is a very innate expression for human beings (and that) creativity is as natural as breathing and as essential,” she said.
Levesque will donate a portion of her profits to a nonprofit to ensure some of the proceeds go toward planting trees.
‘Pallet Habitat’ at Sharon Arts Center
PETERBOROUGH – “Pallet Habitat,” an installation of animal paintings created with reclaimed pallet wood, markers and house paint by artist Chad Creighton, will be on exhibit through June 28 at the Sharon Arts Center Members Gallery, 30 Grove St.
Information: nhia.edu/chad-creighton.
‘Through the Artists’ Eyes’
The work of Larry Donovan and Aline Lotter will be on exhibit through June 28 at East Colony Fine Art, 44 S. Commercial St. Information: 621-7400 or eastcolony.com.
Solo exhibit at Stella Blu
NASHUA – Nashua Area Artists’ Association member Sandra Peters has a solo art exhibit hanging at Stella Blu American Tapas restaurant, 70 E. Pearl St. The exhibit runs through the end of June.
Alcohol inks and pet photography exhibit
HOLLIS – Artist Alene Sirott-Cope will have a solo exhibit of her alcohol inks and pet photographs at the Hollis Library, 2 Monument Square, through July 10.
“My art has evolved many times in a variety of mediums,” said the artist. “My newest venture involves alcohol inks. I love the vivid colors and the reaction of the inks when they combine. They take on a life of their own and are quite serendipitous. The outcome is similar to watercolors but can be painted on many different substrates. I use these inks a lot for pet portrait backgrounds.”
Alcohol Inks, a fairly recent form of art medium was recognized as a scrapbooking tool, but is now utilized in fine art. Alene teaches workshops in order to introduce this unique form of paint to others who are not familiar with it’s impromptu properties. For more information, visit alene-sirottcope.fineartamerica.com.
ArtWalk event registration open
NASHUA – Artist registration for this year’s ArtWalk Weekend is now open, with registration deadline being July 31.
Registration fee is $35, $15 for students/emerging artists, and includes a year membership in City Arts Nashua. Sign up by June 30 and the fees are $25 and $15.
Registration is opening earlier this year so that participants can benefit from an extensive publicity campaign for ArtWalk Weekend. Each artist will be featured on Facebook; CAN is working with the City to develop a wayfinding GIS system, on their website and a mobile app, showing each venue with the artists and their work at each site; announcements are planned on all online calendars and event sites; a printed map of ArtWalk venues listing the artists will be available to downtown businesses and restaurants a month before the event; newspaper and magazine articles are planned, as well as posters, lawn signs and banners and flags downtown.
This year on its 10th anniversary, City Arts Nashua is presenting ArtWalk Weekend on Oct. 17-19, with a focus on the arts, entertainment and food.
A Fancy Friday fundraiser is scheduled on the evening of Oct. 17.
Open studios, art exhibition and sales are Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m., perfect timing for visitors to shop locally for holiday season gifts.
To register for ArtWalk Weekend, visit www.cityartsnashua.org. Online and mail-in registration options are available.
For more information, contact Artist Coordinator Bonnie Guercio at bonnie.guercio@cityartsnashua.org.
Exhibit: ‘Abstract & Modernism’
MILFORD – New Hampshire Antique Co-op will present “Abstract & Modernism: 1950s to Today,” an exhibit and sale of paintings by artists representative of this post-war cultural and artistic movement, through Aug. 31 in their Upstairs Gallery, 323 Elm St. Information: nhantiquecoop.com.